Valve structure



June 11, 1935.

F. G. THWAITS 2,004,716 VALVE STRUCTURE I Filed Feb. 27 1933 3 Sheis-Sheet 2' W, ATTORNEY.

Patented June 11, 1935 2,004,716 VALVE STRUCTURE Frederick G. Thwaits, Wauwatosa,'wisq assignor to The Hell 00., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation oi Wisconsin Application February 27, 1933, $erial No. 658,787

. 7 Claims. This invention relates generally to improvements in fiuid' distributing and fiow control systems, and relates more specifically to improvements in valve structures for controlling the fiow of fluids and especially liquids, from storage or dispensing reservoirs such as tanks.

In prior application Serial No. 643,151; filed Nov. 18 1932, is disclosed an improved vacuum actuated emergency valve especially applicable to liquid dispensing reservoirs, which is sus'cepti ble of being operated either manually orautomatically under certain conditions, and which is moreover capable of remote control and adapted to be used in conjunction with other similar valves in a' system fordispensinng 'fluid' from several independent'sources. While the improved valve of this prior applicationhas proven highly suc- A cessful in commercial operation and has also demonstrated its utility for various purposes, there is danger in connection with certain applications of the prior valve structure, that the valve will not effectively resist back pressures to which itmay be subjected when closed. There may also be danger when using these valves for emergency purposes and when'employed for the dispensation'of inflammable fluids, that the fluidmay reach .the'vacu'um producing source and thereby subject the system to fire hazard. Then too, it has been found desirableto be'able under certain conditions, to manually and independently control the vacuum actuation of each 01 a plurality of the improved valves associated with a common fluid distribution system, in

order to enhance the of the system. v

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide various improvements in the construction and operation of valves of, the above described type, which will overcome all of the objections and will meet all of the operating conditions specifically referred to. a

Specifically defined, an object of this invenfiexibility of the control tion is to provide simple and highly effective,

means for relieving an emergencyor shut-01f valve fromundesirable back pressure, when the valve isclosed.

Another specific objectof the invention is to provide means for preventing fluid from a distribution or dispensing system, from entering the vacuum source for actuating the control valves of the system. Y

A further specific object of the invention is to provide improved manually Joperable control mechanism for a plurality of vacuum actuated distribution system. a

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide animproved auxiliary shut-off for relieving each of a plurality of main valves from 6 pressure tending to open the same after they emergency or shut-01f valves in a common fluid" mally functioning mechanism, inmainta'ining a vacuum, actuated emergency valve closed against the back-pressure of liquid .in the system with which the valve cooperates.

A further specific object of the invention, is to provide an improved. fioat actuated control valve for preventing liquid from a vacuumactuated emergencyvalve system, from backing up toward'the source of vacuum which actuates the control'valve. v I

These and other specific objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description. x A clear conception of. the several features involved in this invention, and of theconstruction andoperation of valves and distributionsystems utilizing these features, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanyi g and forminga part of this specification in whiclilike reference characters designate the sameor similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic top view of a'multiple compartment liquid storage tank having an improved emergency or shut-off valve system applied therein; h

Fig. 2 is a similarly diagrammatic side elevation'ofthe multiple compartment tank showing the fluid dispensingand 'valve control system;

Fig. 3-i s a likewise diagrammatic bottom view of the tank, fluid dispensing system, andv'alve control mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic end view'of.

tank, distribution system, and valve control the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is apart sectional view of one of the improved vacuum actuated liquid flow control valves, showing the valve in open position;

Fig. 6 is a'similar view of the showing the same closed; v

Fig. 7 is a transverse horizontal section through the vacuum actuated control valve, taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the vacuum'actu ated valve, looking atthe valve in a direction ,Fig. 9 is a central vertical section through the for preventing liquid from the dispensing system Fig. 11 is an enlarged part sectional side viewv of one of the improved manually operable flow control valve,

ninety degrees in advance of the disclosure in I control valves, showing the valve in .open position; and

Fig. 12 isa similarly enlarged fragmentary front view of the valve operating mechanism for-the' valve of Fig. 11, showing this mechanism in a position corresponding to closed position of the valve. v

While the invention has been illustrated and described herein as being specifically applied to a tank truck, and .to a liquid dispensing system associated therewith and utilizing the engine of the truck as a primary source of vacuum, it is not intended to .thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope of the claims, since some of the novel features are obviously capableof more general application to fluid distribution systems ofvarious types. I 7

Referring specifically to the improved system disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the multiple compartment receptacleortank I5 is divided by partitions I6 into segregated compartments l'I-, l8, I9, 20, each having an upper manhole 2| for permitting inspection of the interior thereof, and

also having a lower fluid discharge opening con-' trol ed by a vacuum actuated shut-off valve; 22.

The tank I5 is adapted to bemountedfor transportation, upon a truck or other vehicle, in a wellknown manner, and may have a running board 23 associated with each of the opposite sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to permit an attendant 'to determine the liquid levels within the several compartments ll, l8, I9, 23 through the manholes 2l. The discharge sides of all of. the

control valves 22 may either be'communicable' with'a common delivery conduit or pipe 24 having the usual dispensing faucet or ,valve at the delivery endthereoiior each of the'valves 22 may be communicable with an independent deliveryconduit or pipe asin the copending appli cation hereinabove referredsto. v

' The shut-off valves 22 are'all controllable either manually' or "automatically, by vacuum derived secondarily from a'source or.reservoir 25, and primarily from a pump or from the intake manifold of the engine which drives the truck, through a pipe line 26 connecting the reservoir .with the engine, Obviously, a vacuum pum of any kind may be utilized instead of thetruck propelling engine, so that the reservoir '25 jmay for all; practical purposes: be referred to as the vacuum .source, and this source may be provided-with a gage 21 for indicating the'degree of vacuum existing' within the reservoir 25. illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the reservoir 25 is connected directly to the vacuum producing means, by,

the pipe 26.whichhas an electricalinsulator'23 therein, and has another pipe 3i)v provided with a shut-off valve 3|, leading-to a float controlled non-return. check valve'32. The pipe 30 may be provided with a branch pipe having a control valve 33 therein for connecting the portion oi 'thepipe so beyond the shut-oil valve 31- with the atmosphere,-and the check valve 32 may be disposed near the lower portion of the'reservoir 25 and is constructed asshown in detail i'n'Fis.-9.

The float controlled non-return check valve 32, of Fig. 9, is adapted to prevent liquid from the tank l5 or from the pipe 24 from reaching the reservoir 25', in case such liquid enters thevacuum pipesystem, and one or more of these valves 32 may be utilized'in the system. Thisimproved automatic safety valve 32 comprisesa casing .34 ,communica'ting at its upper side portion with .a pipe 35 and having a drain cock 38 at lower tion of the system 2,004,716 H g Y 'end thereof; a cover 31 rigidly attached to the upper end of the casing 34' and having an an- I nular seating 33 with '"the central portion of which the pipe 33 communicates: and a buoyant float 33 guided for vertical movement within the casing 34 and carrying a valve disk 40 adapted 1 kind. The drain cock36 serves to efiect re- "moval of liquid from within the casing 34 in leakage of liquid from the liquidconfining porinto i the vacuum portion -thereof,- I

The pipe "which is part'of the vacuum portion of the system is directly communicablewith the pipe, 30 when the safety check valve 32 is open, and has one branch controlled by a valve' 4| and communicating with a header 42, and another branch .43 controlled by a valve 44 and communicating with a distributingpipe 45 runningalong the top. of the tank l5. The header 42 isconnected to the vacuum actuated operating device of each valve 22 by meansof, a'pipe 43. having a control valve 41 therein near the header, and each of the valves 22 also has. a' pipe 43 connectingitsv'acuum. actuated operating device with the distributing pipe '45 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Eachof the pipes "has a control 'valve 43. therein, and these pipes are'connectable to the atmosphere by valves 53 located in branch pipes near the -pip'eji. The .valves 41 are preferably located at somereadily acces sible point near the reservoir 25, while the valves 43, 'are'located-near the manholes 2| of the several compartments l'l, l3,=l9, 23, and are read- 3 ily manipulable by an attendant standing on the running-board 23. i i Referring specifically, to Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive,

each of the improved vacuum actuated emergency or shut-off valves .22 comprises an annular valve seat 5|; a main disk valve 52 cooperable with the neously opening the valves- 52, 54; and a spring 51 for assisting the fluid pressure within the compartments l-1,"l3,"l3,i 20 in closing the valves 52,

54. The valves 52, 54 may be of similarconstruction, the valve 52 being disposed within and movable into the adjacent,- compartment I], I8, 43, 20 when opening, and the valve 54 being disposed within and openingintothe'conduit" or pipe 24. The simultaneous opening and closing of the valves "52, 54, is effected by'a series of links 58, 59,30, the latter of which" ispivotally connected at one end tozthe adjacentends-oi the two former, and at its opposite end to the valve housing 8|. The opposite ends of thelink's 53, 53 are pivotally connected respectively to the stem 62 of the valve 54, and to the lower end of the stem 53 of the valve 52, so that motionof I the stem 53 in either direction willbe simultaneously imparted to the stem 32 to simultaneously open and close thevalves 52, 54.. In order'to compensate for possible lost motion-in the con-Y necting linkage, a relatively lightspring 63 may be caused to act upon the auxiliary valve 54 in opposition to thebellows 56, and the springs 51, 63 will obviouslyassist the pressure in the compartments I1, 13, I3, 23 and in the pipe 24, in

, valve 54 may be provided with a removable strainer or protecting screen 64, and the housing 6| may also be provided with a releasable closure plate 65 for permitting accessto the valves and to the linkage connecting the same. I

The bellows 56 of each valve .22, is adapted to contract as indicated in Fig. 5, upon reduction in pressure therein below atmospheric, and to expand as shown in Fig. 6 upon re-establishment of atmospheric pressure therein. The bellows 56 is attached at its upper end to a suspension plate 66, and has its lower movable end secured to the upper extremity of the main valve stem 53. The vacuum distribution pipes 46, "previously described, are communicable with theinterior of the bellows 56 through a T-fitting 61, and the medial portion of the stem 53 is pivotally attached to the medial portion of a lever 63 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. One .end of the lever 68 is pivotally attached to the stationary screen retainer 69 while the opposite swinging end.there-, of has a chain 10 attached thereto and extending upwardly therefrom through the manhole 2| of the corresponding compartments, [8, l9, as shown in Fig.2. The chains 10 serve to, permit manual opening of the valves 22, and may be secured to pins or hooks on the tank l5 in order to holdthe respective valvesopen and to prevent the upper chain ends from dropping into the tank. I

During normal operation of the improved vacuum actuated control valve system the'valves 22/are normally closed, and a vacuum is established within the source or'reservoir 25 through the pipe 26, in any desired manner. as by operating the propelling motor of the truck upon which the tank I5 is supported' Assuming the compartments I1, l8,] l9 to be empty, and that it is desired to'fill the successive compartmentsbyadmitting liquid theretofrom the liquidv supply and dispensing pipe 24 past the several shut-off valves 22. The drain cook. 36 should first be.

opened in order to determine whether or not there is any liquid in the vacuum system. -If no liquid is present in this system, the float valve 32 will be open,- and after the valve 33 has been closed, the valve 3| may be opened to connect the pipe 35 with the vacuum reservoir 25. The valves 4], 4! should be closed, and the valve may then be opened to establish a vacuum in the distribution pipe running along the upper portion of the tank 15, through the pipe 43. With the various vacuum control valves thus set,;an attendant may manually actuate the bellows 56 of any of the.

. main valves 22to either open or close the same,

from the running board 23, by manipulating the corresponding valve's49, 50.v By closing the valve 50 and opening the adjacent valve 43, the bellows 56 of the corresponding main valve 22 will be connected with the vacuum distribution pipe 45 through the pipe 48, thus causing the bellows to contract and to simultaneously move the disk valves 52, 54 away fromtheir respective seats 5|,

55. The attendantmay then view the interioror the compartments l1, [8, I 9, 20 being filled, through the manhole 2|, and when suflicient liquid has enteredthe compartment the disk valves 52, 54 may be quickly closed to cut oil communication with the'pipe 24, by closing the vacuum control valve 49 and opening the adjacent valve 50, whereupon atmospheric pressurev will be established within the corresponding bellows 56 and the springs 51, 63 aided by the liquid pressures acting upon the disk valves will eflect rapid closing thereof. The successive tank compartments I], l8, I9, 20 may tlififibe supplied with-liquid I main shut-off valves 22 and to thus open these valves. The vacuum control valves 41 for actu-* ating the shut-off valves 22 of the several compartments are preferably located near the faucet or dispensing valve .of the pipe 24, so that any desired number of the compartments l1, l8, I9, 20

may be placed into communication with the pipe 24. If for any reason, a by accidental breakage of one of the pipes 46, o by opening of one of the valves 33, 50, the bellows 56 are connected to the atmosphere, the valves 22 will automatically close to immediately cut off communication between the tank compartments and the pipe 24, Also, if e liquid should enter the vacuum pipe system, as by leakage through 'a defective bellows 5,6, the

vacuum within the source or reservoir 25 will cause such leakage liquid to quickly enter the cas ing 34 of the float actuated valve 32 and to cut off further communication, between the pipes 35,

30. The vacuum system therefore provides for emergency or'manual'shutting oil of the liquid delivery from the compartments under .all conditions. 1

, If the vacuum control system is not in use, due to inability to establish or to maintain a vacuum in the reservoir 25, the valves 22 may be manually,

controlled by meanspf thechains 10. These .chains 10 are accessible from the manholes 2|,

and may obviously be utilizedto open the, disk valves 52, 54. of any or all of the compartments l1, I8, is, 2.0. When the chains 10 are released,

the springs5'l, 63 aided by the liquid pressure within the tank. compartments and pipe 24, will again quickly close the valves 52, 54, thus completing the manual control. It is to benoted that when thedisk valve 52 is opened, the auxiliary disk valve 54. is also open; and when the valve 52 is closed, the valve 54 also closes and thereby effectively relieves the .valve 52 from pressure existing within the pipe 24. This feature is important since it prevents liquid from some of the compartments l1, l8, I9, 20 which may be filled, frombacking up intoan emptycompartment through the common ,pipelfi, and also permits use of relatively light springs 51.. f

This feature of the improvement is also applicable to advantage, to manually operable shut- .ofi valves constructed as shown in Figs. 10, '11

and 12. In this modified structure, the valve structures 22' are similar to the valves 22 previously described, but do nothave the vacuum actuated bellowsappliedthereto. 'Instead, the disk valves 52, 54' areadapted to be simultaneouslyopenedagainst the action of the springs 51, 63, by means of levers ll secured to a common actuating shaft 12 mounted in bearings I3 at the upper part of the tank l5, and running lengthwise of. this-tank. The shaft 12 is adapted to be rotated by means of a crank 14 or otherwise, and each of the levers H has its lower swinging end connected by alink 15 to one arm of a bellcrank 16 which is pivotally supported upon a with these valves.

fixed bracket 11 secured to the adjacent shaft bearing 13. The other arm of each bell-crank 16 ispivotally connected to the upper end of a longitudinally adjustable link 18 the lower end of which is pivotally attached to the upper adjacent end of the corresponding valve stern 3".

The operation of this modified manually controlled valve structure 22' should be clearly apparent from Figs. 10, '11 and 12. By turning the shaft 12 with the aid of thecrank 14 to'the position shown in Fig. 11, the disk valves 52, will be simultaneously opened through the links 58, 59, 60. Upon swinging' the levers H in a counter-clockwise direction tbthfi, position shown in Fig. 12, the'v'alves 52', 54 will "besimultaneously closed. In this modification, the springs 51, 63 serve only to take'up lost motion, and may be omitted if so desired. I V From the foregoingdescription, it will be apparent that the present invention provides simple and highly effective meansgior relieving the disk valves 52 from back pressiireg irrespective of thetype 'of control utilizedf'ifr conjunction The float valve 32 effectively prevents liquid from entering the trol system, and the improved control system of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is' highly efiicient and flexible in operation. With the improvement, thevalves 22 are capable of operation from points located at remotedistances from the .valves. and these valves function automatically to stop undesirable escape of liquid. The filling otgthe tank com partmentsis under control of the-attendant at all times, and this is alsotr'ue of the liquid dis pensation, and the invention has proven highly successful in commercial use.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details ci construction herein'shown and described for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

te It is claimed and desired to secure by Let rs of segregated liquid Patent 1. In combination, a plurality" of liquid recep-' tacles, a commonconduit communicable with all of said receptacles, a valve for independently establishing and interrupting communication between each of said receptacles and said common conduit, common means for controlling the opening of all of said valves, means for-closing each of said valves against the pressure insaid con-V duit, and meansoperable directly by the closing movement of each of said valves for gradually relieving the back pressure thereon and for maintaining said valves when closed relieved from pressure existing within said conduit. r

2. In combination, a liquid confining tank, a

conduit communicable with said tank at several places, a valve for establishing and interrupting communication between said tank'and said conduit at each of said places, manuallyoperable means for controlling-'theopening of all of said valves, spring means for independently closing each of said valves against liquid pressure in said conduit, andmeans operable directly by the closing movement of each of said valves for relievingthe same when closed fromthe pressure existing within said conduit.

3. In combination, a liquid confining tank, a common conduit communicable with said tank vocuum conat several places, a valve for independently establishing and interrupting communication between said" tank and said common conduit at each of said places, common means for controlling the opening of all of said valves, means for independently closing each of said valves against I the pressure in said conduit, and means operable directly by theclosing movement of each of said valves for gradually relieving the back'pressure thereon and for maintaining said valves when closed relieved from pressure existing within said conduit.

4. In combination, a plurality of liquid confining compartments, 9. conduitcomm'unicable with all of said compartments, a valve for independently establishing and interrupting communication between each 01 said compartments and said conduit, manually controllablemeans for opening all of said valves, independently operable means for automatically closing each of said valves, and an independent closure mechanically connected directly to each of said valves and operable by the kclosing movement thereof to relieve the valve when closed from pressure existing within said conduit;

5. In'combination, a plurality of liquid confining compartments,-a conduit communicable with all ci' said compartments, a valve located within each of said compartments for independently establishing and interrupting communicationbetween said compartment and'said conduit, manually controllable means cooperating with the fluid pressuure within said compartments to open saidvalves, independently operable mechanical means for automatically closing each of said valves, and an independent, closure connected by linkage directly to each of said valves, each of said closures being automatically operable directly by the closing movement .of the corre sponding valve to relieve said valve when closed from pressure existing within said conduit.

6. In combination,

confining compartments, a common conduit communicable with all ofsaid compartments, a valve for independently establishing and interrupting communication between each of said compartments and said, conduit, means operable'by the fluid pressure within said compartments to open said valves,: independent means for closing each of said valves, and an independent closure mechanically connected di-" rectly to each of said valves and operable directly by the closing movement thereof to relieve the valve when closed from-pressure existing within Said conduit. 1

7. In combination, a tank having a plurality of segregated liquid confining compartments, acommon conduit communicable with all of said ccmpartments,a valve for independently establishing and interrupting communication between each of said compartments and said conduit, means operable by the fluid pressure within said compartments to open said valves i'ndependent means for closing each of said valves, and means operable directly by the closing movement ofeach of said valves for relieving the back pres- 'sure thereon and for maintaining said valves when closed relieved from pressure existing within said conduit.

v FREDERICK G. THWAITS.

a tank having a. plurality 

